ReactionHarvey Elliott: It's about making sure I'm ready to help the team
Harvey Elliott vowed to continue working and making the most of every opportunity to deliver for Liverpool.
Elliott needed just 46 seconds to impact and settle the Reds' Champions League last-16 first leg with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old was introduced to the Parc des Princes clash in the 86th minute and his first touch – a low finish past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – snatched a 1-0 victory for Arne Slot's men.
Fourteen of Elliott's 18 appearances this season have been as a substitute, though he insists nothing changes in his team-first mindset when beginning on the bench.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, the No.19 said: "Nights like [PSG], I always want to play Champions League football. But for me it's not about being frustrated so everyone can see, it's just about making sure that I'm here and ready for the team.
"Although I played five minutes, I still had that mentality of wanting to help the team as much as possible.
"You never know what's going to happen in football, you just need little moments and that's when your confidence can become bigger and better.
"Hopefully more and more opportunities come but it's just down to me putting in the work at the training ground and working as hard as I can on the pitch to try to get as many opportunities as I can.
"The manager has his decisions, he has his tactics and you need to respect that as a player. We're in a great position and I can't really complain, to be honest."
Mohamed Salah was the player to make way for Elliott, who had defending on his mind when he entered the action in the French capital.
On the message delivered by Slot, Elliott said: "It was just more about not really conceding, to be honest, because you know if you don't concede then you don't lose the game.
"If the opportunity came, it's just down to us to take it. But most importantly we just had to defend. There were talks amongst the bench of us just defending with our lives and hoping we get one chance.
"We already knew it was going to be a really tough game because of the quality that they have, especially here at this stadium. But I think it just showed the resilience of us as a team and as a club to fight until the very end. I think we got our reward in the end."
Instinct took over when Elliott found himself free inside the hosts' penalty area to receive Darwin Nunez's pass.
That moment has put Liverpool in control of the tie ahead of next week's second leg at Anfield.
"You don't really think about scoring on your first touch," Elliott admitted. "But it just fell perfectly for me with a great pass from Darwin. It was just up to me to supply the finish and luckily I did.
"For me that's the first ever opportunity and time it's happened, and I felt like it was the easiest just because you don't really think too much. It's just about making sure you get a connection and, most importantly, get it on target.
"I just tried to aim low in the bottom corner when I saw the 'keeper come across. Although he got a hand on it, it went in."
